Hulk Hogan to CopsHelp Me Find the BastardWho Leaked My Sex Tape

10/9/2012 12:16 PM PDT

Hulk Hogan to Cops -- Help Me Find the Bastard Who Leaked My Sex Tape

EXCLUSIVE

Hulk Hogan is turning to cops for help after his sex tape surfaced online last week -- seeking to file a criminal police report with his local PD in Florida ... in the hopes they'll be able to track down whoever leaked the footage ... TMZ has learned.

We've learned Hulk's attorney David R. Houston contacted the St. Petersburg PD this AM, claiming whoever made the tape committed a felony by unlawfully recording Hulk without his consent -- and whoever leaked it broke the law by unlawfully running that footage.

Hulk's hoping a police investigation will lead him to the culprit ... or culprits.

As we reported, Hulk has already fired off a cease-and-desist letter to Gawker, demanding the website remove the minute-long clip it posted, depicting Hulk having sex. So far, the website hasn't removed the footage.

Hulk told Howard Stern the tape was shot six years ago while he was still married to Linda Hogan, but separated. Hulk said the woman in the tape is radio host Bubba the Love Sponge's estranged wife Heather Clem ... and Bubba gave Hulk permission to bang her.